2. What it is…
The pituitary gland is found at the base of the brain. In
panhypopituitarism, the gland produces an
insufficient amount of hormones.
Figure 1
3. Symptoms
Compression of the tumor on local structures can
cause:
Blurred vision
Loss of visual field
Poor temperature control
4. The different levels of symptoms
Insufficient levels of gonadotropins can cause:
In premenopausal women: missed menstrual
cycles,Infertility In Women , Osteoporosis, vaginal
dryness, loss or reduction in female characteristics
In men: Impotence, reduced size of testes, decreased
production of sperm, Infertility In Men, breast
enlargement, reduced muscle mass, loss or reduction in
male characteristics (eg, beard growth)
5. different levels of symptoms (Cont.)
Insufficient levels of growth hormone can cause:
In children: stunted growth or dwarfism
In adults: weakness, Overweight , reduced cardiac output, low
blood sugar levels, and reduced exercise tolerance
6. different levels of symptoms (Cont.)
Insufficient levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones
can lead to:
Hypothyroidism, which causes confusion, hair loss,
weakness, slow heart rate, muscle stiffness, intolerance to
cold, Constipation, weight gain, and dry skin
Insufficient corticotrophic levels can lead to:
Underactive adrenal gland, which causes low blood
pressure, Hypoglycemia, fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, and
low stress tolerance-This can be life-threatening.
7. different levels of symptoms (Cont.)
Excessive prolactin levels can cause:
o In women: missed periods, infertility, and milk secretion
o In men: reduced facial and body hair, small testes
8. Causes
This condition is most often caused by damage to the
gland. In adults, it is usually a result of pituitary
surgery. In children, damage to the pituitary gland
may be caused by:
Infection
Stroke
Genetic factors
Pituitary Adenoma on or near the pituitary gland
9. risk factors
Damage to the pituitary gland (eg, Trauma,
radiation, cancer spread, Postpartum Hemorrhage)
Tumor on the pituitary gland
10. Diagnosed
MRI scan -a test that uses magnetic waves to make
pictures of structures inside the body
Blood tests-Blood tests-to measure pituitary, as well
as target gland hormone levels
Stimulation tests-to test the maximum capacity of
the endocrine glands, usually of the pituitary gland
Semen analysis-in males suspected of infertility
11. Treatments
Figure 2
The goal is to restore normal blood hormone levels of
thyroid, adrenal, estrogen or testosterone, and
sometimes growth hormone.
Treatment options include:
- Hormone replacement therapy-based on what types of
hormones are missing
- Tumor removal-done if the cause of the damage is a
tumor
- Radiation therapy -done if the cause of the damage is a
cancer or tumor
12. Background information
The anterior pituitary produces the hormones
thyrotropin ,corticotropin, luteinizing hormone ,
follicle-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, and
prolactin . The anterior pituitary is controlled by
specific hypothalamic-releasing hormones. The
posterior pituitary produces vasopressin antidiuretic
hormone and oxytocin.
13. A 43-Year-Old Male with Untreated
Panhypopituitarism due to Absence of the
Pituitary Stalk: From Dwarf to Giant. This
case shows a particular growth curve with
an average growth velocity of 2 cm/yr,
resembling patients with estrogen
receptor mutation or aromatase
deficiency.
Figure 3
Before
Her entire life she had to travel the country
visiting various hospitals, having numerous
tests and medical procedures. In January 2011
she decided to investigate the possibility of an
Electric Stimulator procedure which involves
fitting a gastric pacemaker into the stomach.
After
Figure 4
